Share this:

Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is known for his propensity to stay out of the limelight — which actually makes him stand out even more in most instances. On Wednesday, Lynch opted not to go on his Super Bowl-winning team’s trip to the White House, and his reasoning actually was pretty rational.

“He just said he didn’t want to go,” Lynch’s mother, Delisa Lynch, told the Seattle Times.

Athletes often will skip the celebratory trip for political reasons, or even because of contract disputes with their team. Lynch, though, just wasn’t feeling it.

Lynch’s mother said her son had been mourning the recent death of a family member, but that they’d had some recent talks and she thought Marshawn planned to attend the celebration anyway.

“No particular reason was given to me,’’ she said. “He just said he didn’t want to go.’’

President Barack Obama made light of the fact that Lynch missed the ceremony, cracking a joke about the running back’s aversion to media attention.

“I am sorry that Marshawn’s not here because I just want to say how much I admire his approach to the press,” Obama said. “I wanted to get some tips from him. It’s about the action.”